About Us

The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) represents U.S. based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tank, container, or dry bulk vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades and companies that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels. Current members include companies that own or operate U.S. flag or foreign-flag vessels.

Mission

Our mission is to represent members’ interests regarding U.S. and International legislative, regulatory, and administrative entities.

Vision

Our vision is to be recognized as a primary organization representing, owners, operators, and charterers of U.S. and foreign flag vessels, before U.S. and international legislative, regulatory, and administrative entities.

Strategy

We seek to achieve our mission and vision through the primary strategies of education, engagement, collaboration and alignment. At all times, we:

• Strive to be technically correct
• Act with integrity
• Act as a proactive, professional organization to collaborate and engage with other industry associations

Strategy Implementation

1) CSA will represent and aggressively pursue the members’ interests before US & International regulatory, legislative & administrative entities.

• These entities include:
  • The U.S. Congress
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Customs and Border Protection
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • State Department
  • Department of Justice
  • International Maritime Organization
  • International Labor Organization
  • Individual States
• Aggressively pursue the members’ interests on legislative, regulatory and administrative matters
• Provide opportunities to positively promote the industry to partners, customers, regulatory bodies and stakeholders to facilitate and strengthen its advocacy efforts.
• Support a viable maritime industry operating in the U.S. and promote open international trade in shipping services such as:
  • Ocean Use Policy
  • Marine Spatial Planning
  • Access to International Trade
  • Jurisdictions
  • Anti-Piracy
• Provide a voice of the maritime industry operating in the US to support sound public policy through legislative and regulatory initiatives to promote (but not limited to):
  • Marine safety
  • Maritime security
  • Maritime personnel issues
  • Environmentally responsible policies and operating practices

2) CSA will act as a conduit (2-way flow of information) between CSA Members and state/local organizations and engage on state/local issues where appropriate.

• Receive state/local issues from its members, monitor the issue, inform its membership and coordinate and collaborate with other organizations in its members’ best interest, where appropriate (and not proactively track state/local issues)
• Appropriately engage in state/local issues when CSA can be a positive influence, resources are available and the issue has broader implications

3) CSA will promptly and thoroughly inform its members of issues affecting the maritime industry arising internationally and in the United States.

• Support members to be better informed and able to be advocates/ambassadors on issues by providing key talking points (Executive summary as well as detailed analysis)

4) CSA will establish and maintain relationships with legislative and regulatory officials, members of the media, persons in the international maritime community and other influential persons.

• Maintain relationships with and educate current and new staff members of appropriate congressional committees
• Educate new members of congress through building relationships with their staff

5) CSA will act as a Subject Matter Expert on maritime issues (not as a primary lobbying organization).

• Develop specific strategies with respect to the issues
• Provide professional and technical expertise, in order to be an authoritative and effective voice on maritime issues.
• Engage environmental groups, standard organizations, technical associations and professional societies, among others for the purpose of educating them about the CSA Members’ position to support a maritime community